Pennant released by Stoke

Jermaine Pennant has been released by Stoke, bringing to an end his three-and-a-half year stay at the Britannia stadium.

The former Arsenal and Liverpool player now becomes a free agent and can sign for another club even after the January transfer window expires.

Pennant found game hard to come by under Mark Hughes and his final act in a Stoke shirt was to concede a last-minute penalty in the 1-1 draw with Everton on New Year's Day.

The 31-year-old signed from Real Zaragoza in the summer of 2010 before falling out with then manager Tony Pulis over claims he failed to report for a team meeting the night before a Premier League game.

He was then sent out on loan to Wolves but having been brought in from the cold by Hughes and scoring in a 1-0 win at West Ham in August, he was to make only seven further appearances.